Musical evening ‘Strings of Harmony’ held at BMICH

A mega musical evening ‘Strings of Harmony’ – a Santoor Jugalbandi featuring legendary maestros from India Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pandit Rahul Sharma enthralled the music lovers of Colombo at BMICH on August 15. The cultural evening was presented by High Commission of India in celebration of the 73rd Independence Day of India.

More than 1,500 guests attended the cultural event where Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and his son Pandit Rahul Sharma kept the audience spellbound with their creative genius. Hailing from a family of musicians from Kashmir the two maestros on Santoor were accompanied by eminent musicians Barkha Sharma, Bhawani Prasad Kathak, Yogesh Ratnakar Samsi on Tanpura, Tabla and Pakhawaj.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka presided over the function. Ministers Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, Palani Digambaram, Daya Gamage, Deputy Minister Anoma Gamage, State Minister V. Radhakrishnan, Governor Suren Raghavan and many other dignitaries attended the event.

An exhibition titled “Weaves and stitches of India: the Saree Sutra”- showcasing the unity in diversity through textiles and weaves from different States of India was also showcased at BMICH and was greatly appreciated by the audience.

The celebration of the 73rd Independence Day of India in Sri Lanka began early in the morning with a flag hoisting ceremony held at India House, the official residence of the High Commissioner of India. The event was open to the public and large number of Indians participated in the event.

High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu read out the address of President of India to the nation and also addressed the gathering. In his address he reiterated India’s solidarity with Sri Lanka against all forces of terrorism. The address was followed by a brief cultural programme which showcased folk and classical performances from various regions of India